Anyone have suggestions on a safe way to transfer gas from one boat to another on the water.

I trailer my speed boat routinely to a lake that's several hours away and always gas up before I get there. After a weekend of running around the lake I ususally have a half tank (~30 gallons plus) of gas left. Rather than tow the extra weight home I was thinking about pumping it off to a friends cruiser that is lake bound.... Not, that I am that nice of a guy, my freind has offered to buy the gas. I would also be able to conveniently gas up SeaDoo's etc. that my kids "borrow" to ride.

My thoughts were to put a Tee in my speed boat's fuel line and add a gas transfer pump, long fuel hose and a shut off fuel nozzle (kind of like they have at a gas station).

To discharge any possible static electricity, would it be sufficient to run a piece of copper wire from the fuel nozzle and clamp it on to the cruizer's aluminum fuel tank before inserting the fuel nozzle in the fill?

Thanks in advance,

Steve

 

Hay Steve., your problem is you need to put more time on your boat. Just kidding.

I would not try to transfer fuel on the water for enviromental issues as well as I think there might be laws agenst that.


What I do in the winter is unhook my fuel line from the engine and start the fuel flowing with the primer and let it siphon into a gas can.

 

This is not a good idea. You're not properly equipped to transfer fuel on the water. Too much can go wrong, not the least of which will be the spark of your solenoid and starter motor after those heavy gas fumes have overwhelmed your bilge blower.

Cabellas, Bass Pro, and others offer certified transfer tanks that are designed exactly for that purpose. Drain the fuel when the boat is safely on shore, then transfer it to another vehicle. (Heck, put it in your tow vehicle for the ride home!)